Disappointing Rockwell College exit Junior Cup

A disappointing performance from Rockwell College saw them bow out of the Seat Munster Schools Junior Cup on Wednesday last at Clanwilliam FC, losing 20-3 to Presentation Brothers.

A disappointing performance from Rockwell College saw them bow out of the Seat Munster Schools Junior Cup on Wednesday last at Clanwilliam FC, losing 20-3 to Presentation Brothers.

Rockwell had gone into the game with an emphatic 10-7 victory in the quarter final replay against Castletroy College.

However the task of having to play three cup games in just nine days took its toll on the Cashel men.

Rockwell went behind after ten minutes when they were penalised just outside their own 22 for not rolling away and Presentation Brothers kicker James Broderick made no mistake with the penalty to put the Cork men in front.

Rockwell responded well and started getting their rolling maul going from their lineout. However Pres responded with another sucker punch after 15 minutes. Rockwell’s inability to keep the ball at the breakdown saw the Cork men force a brilliant turnover just inside their own half. Pres outhalf Peter Sylvester had Rockwell in all sorts of trouble when he brilliantly kicked over opposing winger Garry Kavanagh in the corner. Kavanagh gathered well but Rockwell were forced to concede touch from captain Paudie Feehan’s subsequent clearance inside their own 22. From there Pres got a brilliant rolling maul going from their line out and hooker Billy Scannell got over in the corner with Broderick unable to add the extra.

Rockwell forced the play from the restart and Paudie Feehan did put over a brilliant penalty to force it back to 8-3. However slowly Pres continued to impose their game and after executing another brilliant lineout maul on 27 minutes, flanker Cian Fitzgerald dived over in the corner and with Broderick again failing to add the extra it left the half time score at 13-3.

Rockwell responded well in the second half with Jake Flannery introduced on the wing for the injured Gary Kavanagh and Brian Fitzpatrick coming on in the backrow to replace the hardworking Andrew Phelan. Indeed Fitzpatrick’s introduction almost paid instant dividends for Rockwell with a brilliant run from inside his own half. The Cashel man brilliantly off-loaded to fullback Joey Noonan just yards short of the Cork men’s line but Pres brilliantly forced the turnover almost under their own posts.

However the game was settled beyond all doubt after 47 minutes when an innocuous kick by Pres outhalf Sylvester caught Rockwell winger Loic Gately uncharacteristically off guard from a wicked bounce of the ball, spilling it forward. And with referee David O’Flynn playing advantage, winger Paul Buckley took full advantage just under the Rockwell posts to put Pres through to a final meeting with Crescent Comprehensive from Limerick.

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